At the December school board meeting, the track and field at Buell stadium was approved by unanimous vote to be renamed Sutfin Track and Field in honor of former superintendent Dr. Jim Sutfin. 

Sutfin retired in 2022 after 33 years as an educator and eight years as Superintendent. In his eight years he achieved a lot. One of his most notable achievements was the implementation of one to one technology to every student in the district. This is the reason every middle and high school student has their own laptop and every elementary school student has a tablet. Some other major accomplishments include the implementation of the Early College program, JROTC, the Bridge to early college at Central Middle, and the first Boys and Girls Club in the district. He was also a large force behind the #BeKind movement in Millard Schools.   

Long before Sutfin was an educator, he went to Millard South High School and set many records on the newly named Sutfin Track and Field. He holds the school record for both the 100 and 200m dash: 10.52 in the 100m and 21.34 in the 200m. It is not only his history with track and field that make him a good fit to be the name of one but also his philosophies in his time working for the district. 

“I always was a big believer in activities, athletics, and academics [being] tied together and that activities and athletics are the front porch of our school district. I believed [activities and athletics]  were a way to help students find a place to call home during their four years of high school,” Sutfin said. 

Sutfin said he is very appreciative to having the track and field named after him. 

“Having the track and field named after me is incredibly humbling. I’m honored for it and grateful for all the people who have invested with me all these years,” he said. 

Even after retiring as superintendent, Sutfin has not stopped working to help people. 

“I have a consulting practice where I work on three major themes. One of them is leadership development, one is workforce development, and the other is individual coaching for individual people.” 

Although he said he enjoys the work he is doing now he does miss some things about being the superintendent. “I miss the people. I miss the students. And you miss the excitement around the really cool things that are happening in the district,” Sutfin said. 

Taking into consideration Sutfin’s history with the track and field, his many years as an educator, and his accomplishments in his time as superintendent, the naming of the track and field at Buell stadium to the Sutfin Track and Field makes a lot of sense.